The Portland daily press., 1887-09-02
sAYARp's PROPOSALS.
Correspondence which Throws
Light on the New Movement.
England Wants the Washington
Treaty and No Indemnity.
Reports from the Dominion Respect
Ing the Commissions Work.

WASHINGTON, Sept. l.-Whlle the State
Department does not make public its propo-
sition to Great Britain In regard 10 the fish
cries, the British Government. In publishing
the ofiicial correspondence. has made known
the substance Of the proposals. In letter
to Minister Phelps. Secretary Bayard says:
II inclose the draft Of a memorandum
Whicn you may propose 70 Lord Iddeslelgh,
and which trust will be found 10 contain a
satisfactory basis for the solution Of existing
dlmculties, and assist In securing an assured
Just, honorable, and therefore mutually sat-
1sfactory settlement Of the long yexed ques-
tOn Oh the North American fisheries. In
proposing the adoption Of a width Of ten
miles at the mouth as a proper definition OF
the bays In which, except on certain speci-
fed coasts, the fishermen Of the United
States are not to take fish, have followed
the example furnished by France and Great
Britain from their convention signed al
Paris, In August, 1880. The present memo
randum also contains prOv'"'
al commercial facilities
for the promotion Of
nowhere more freely t...... -.
and the commercial centres Of that nation.
Such facilities cannot, with any show OF rea-
son, be denied 10 American fishing vessels
when plying their vocation In deep sea fish
ing grounds In the localities open 10 them
equally with other natlonallties. The con-
yention OF 1918 inhibits the taking, drying or
curing fish by American fishermen In certain
waters and on certvin coasts, and when
these are affected the inhlbitory features are
exhausted. Everything that may presuma-
bly, guard against an infraetion Of these pro-
visions VIII be recognized and Obeyed by the
Government Of the United States but should
not be pressed beyond its natural force. BY
its very terms and necessary intendment the
same treaty recognized the continuance per-
manently OF the accustomed rights Of Amer
lean fishermen In those places not embraced
In the denunciatton Of the treaty 10 prose-
cute the business as freely as did their fore
fathers.
"No construction Of the convention OF
1918 that strikes at or impedes the open sea
fishing by citizens Of the United States can
be accepted, nor should a treaty Of friend
ship be tortured into a means Of such Of
fence, nor should such an end be accom-
plished by indirection. Therefore, by caus-
Ing the same port regulations and CONNER
elal rights to be applied 10 vessels engaged
therein as are enforced relative TO other
trading craft, we propose to prevent a ban
from being put upon all the lawful and regu-
lar business Of open sea fishing. Arrange
ments now exist between the governments
OF Great Britain and France and Great
Britain and Germany for the submission in
the irst instance OF all cases OF seizure TO
the joint examination and decision Of two
discreet and able officers Of the navy Of the
espectiye.counrries whose vessels are TO be
sent on duty to cruise In the waters to be
BuaA0Ca oSdAhot observation-disclosures. OONit5 Oh
these agreements are herewith enclosed for
reference.
''The additional feature Of an umpire in
case Of difference In opinion Is borrowed
from the terms OF Article LIST Of the treaty Of
June 8, 1854"
Lord Salisbury in reply says: "The propo-
sal OF your government as IL now stands Is
not one which could be accepted by Her Ma
Jesty's government, still Her Majesty's gov
ernment Is glad to think that the fact Of such
a nronoaal having hoau
portunity which, up to the present time, had
not been offered for an amicable comparison
OF the views entertained by the respective
governments. The main principle Of that
proposal Is that mixed commission should
be appointed for the purpose Of determining
the limits OF those territorial waters within
which, subject to the stipulation Of the con-
yentiOn OF 1918, the exclusive right Of fishing
belongs to Great Britain. There can be no
objection 0nlthe part OF Her Majesty's gov
ernment TO- the appointment Of mixed com
mission. whose duty II would be TO consider
and report upon the matters referred 10 in
the first three articles OF the draft protocol,
communicated to the Earl Of Clarendon by
Mr.. Adams in 1865. Should a commission
instructed to deal with these subjects be aD-
pointed at an early date, the result Of its
investigations might be reported 10 the gov
ernment affected without much loss Of time
=, but there Is another course which Her
Majesty's Government are inclined TO pro-
pose, and which, In their opinion, would af-
ford a temporary solution OF the controversy
equally creditable TO both parties. Her
Malesty's Government has never been In
formed OF the reasons which induced the
Government Of the United States to denOunce
the fishery articles Of the Treaty Of WASH
ton, but they have understood that the
adoption OF that course was In a great degree
the result OF feeling OF disappointment at
the Halifax award, under which the United
States was called upon TO pay the sum Of
~, CO., 900, being the estimate value Of the
benefits which would accrue TO them, In ex-
cess Of those which would be derived by
Canada and Newfoundland from the opera
ton OF the fishery articles Of the treaty. Her
Majesty's Government Of Canada, in proof
OF their earnest desire to treat the question
In spirit OF liberalty. and friendship, are
now willing TO revert for the coming fishing
season, and, II necessary, for further term.
to the condition Of things under the Treaty
OF Washington without any suggestion Of Pc
cuniary idemnity. This Is proposal which,
trust, will commend itself to your Govern
ment, as being based on that spirit Of gener-
0sity and good will which should animate
two great and kindred nations. whose COM
mommon origin, language and institutions
constitute so many bonds OF amity and con-
cord"
What the Dominion Thinks.
TORONTO. Sept. IAN Ottawa special
says that the points Of reference to the fish
cries commission are not stated definitely,
but 1t Is understood to be compromise on
Bayard's proposals Of last year, and alterna-
tive proposals Of the Dominion government.
Ii Is rumOred that the Behring's Sea matter
will be one subject with which the commits
sion will deal.
The Globes London correspondent cables;
The Canadian government has been IN
vited to name one representative on the
commission. believed IL is practically de-
eided that Sir Charles Upper will act.